Rep. Westmoreland: Perdue's Blast of High School Grad Rival 'Stupid'

Five-term Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland — who never graduated from college — Thursday blasted Senate hopeful David Perdue's "stupid" putdown of a tea party rival who never got a college degree.

Westmoreland said the businessman's jibe at former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel won't affect his choice in the crowded GOP primary May 20, Roll Call reported.

Westmoreland hasn't endorsed anyone running in the May 20 Republican primary to determine a candidate to run in the general election for the seat being vacated by two-term GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn, is expected to be the Republican's opponent in November.

"This just shows the different personalities," Westmoreland said. "I think it’s stupid. I’m sure that’s the way he feels, but I feel like you don’t have to be a college [graduate with a] degree to be good at whatever you want to do. It’s never hindered me."

Perdue has come under fire for suggesting Handel, who's also running for the GOP spot on the November ballot, isn't qualified to be in the Senate. In a speech in January, Perdue was videotaped saying: "I mean, there’s a high school graduate in this race, OK?

"I’m sorry, but these issues are so much broader, so complex. There’s only one candidate in this race that’s ever lived outside the United States. How can you bring value to a debate about the economy unless you have any understanding about the free enterprise system and how — what it takes to compete in the global economy?"

Westmoreland said the nation's Founding Fathers "didn’t say anything about a college education," Roll Call reported. "If he wants to put some qualifications on the office that are not in the Constitution, that’s up to him."